Locking device for outboard motors



Feb. 7, 1956 J. c. MUTTY 2,733,589

LOCKING DEVICE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed Oct. 7. 1954 BY QLAWKQW.

2,733,589 LOCKING DEVICE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Joseph C. Mutty, West Monroe, Y.

Application October 7, 1954, Serial No. 469,924

'5 Claims. (Cl. 70- -58) This invention relates to locking devices for outboard motors, and has particular reference to an improved locking or securing device adapted to coact with the clamping mechanism of a motor when the latter is attached to a boat to prevent loss of the motor overboard in the event that the clamping mechanism becomes loosened, and; also to prevent theftor unauthorized removal of the motor from the boat.

'It is well known among fishermen and boating enthusiasts that the usual clamping mechanism which is provided on an outboard motor to secure'it to a boat frequently becomes loosened during operation of the motor due to vibration. If the motor clamps become sufficiently loose, there is of course the danger of losing the motor overboard and in such event it is rarely retrieved, or if retrievedis usually in inoperative condition. Accordingly, various devices have been developed heretofore to prevent the loss of the motor due to a loosened clamping mechanism, and also to prevent theft of the motor; from the boat. Most of these devices, however, are cumbersome or overly complicated, and none, in so far as is known, are adapted for use with both single clamp and double clamp motors.

The present invention, therefore, contemplates as its primary object the provision of a compact, simply constructed locking or securing device adapted to coact with the clamping mechanism of an outboard motor to prevent the loss thereof in the event that the clamping mechanism becomes loosenedduring operation;

Another important object'of the invention is to pro- .vide an improved locking or securing device for an outboard motor which may be effectively employed with either a single clamp or double clamp type of motor clamping mechanism.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an improved locking device for an outboard motor which is strong and durable, and yet is relatively inexpensive to construct.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a locking device for an outboard motor which isv adopted to coact with a padlock or the like to prevent theft or unauthorized removal ofthe motor from the boat.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a locking device for an outboard motor having vibration dampening means to minimize the transmission of motor vibration and'noise to the boat.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers designate corresponding United States Patent 2,733,589 Patented F b. 1.955,

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disclosure, 10 generally indicates the complete assembly of the locking or securing device, which assembly isessentially comprised of a bracket 11 adapted to be fixedly secured to the stern or transom of a boat, and a retaining member 12 adapted to coact with said bracket and the clamping mechanism of an outboard motor. Bracket 11 is in the form of an angle ironhaving holes 14 in one side thereof by which the bracket may be permanently secured to the inner side of the transom 15 of the boat as by screws 1'7, bolts, or. the like.

Retaining 'member 12 is preferably formed of a single piece of sheet metal and comprises an inverted channel and an angle element depending from one side of the channel. The former includes channel sides 18 and 20 joined together by the bottom 21, the side 18 beingof substantially greater width than the side 20, as shown.

.Secured to the inner surface of the channel side 18, for

a purpose to be presently explained, is a strip of resilient material 22 such as neoprene or rubber.

The angle element, the width of which is approximately equal to one-third the lengthof the channel, depends rom themid-portion of the narrower channel side 20 and includes asubstantially vertical leg 24 and a horizontal leg 25' projecting outwardly therefrom. Vertical leg 24 is slightly offset inwardly as indicated at 27 so that horizontal leg 25 will be in alignment with the outwardly projecting side 28 of bracket 11, Figure 2, when the de vice is assembled. A bolt 30 projects. through a hole in the leg 25 and is fixedly secured thereto as by tack welding. The shank of this bolt is adapted to pass through ahole 31 in the bracket side 28 to enable the retaining member to be detachably secured to the bracket.

Anoutboard motor 32, as partially. shownv in phantom linesin Figure 2, is usually. provided with a clamping mechanism having either a. single, centrally disposed clamp or a pair of spaced apart clamps, and these clamps function in substantially the same manner as an ordinary C-clamp. Each such clamp normally includes a suitable supporting arm 3.4Ywhich carries theclamping screw 35 having a handle 37 at its outer end and a clamping pad 38 its innerend. a l

, When the locking device of the inventionv is; used with a clamping mechanism having a pair of spaced: clamps, the motor is. loweredonto the transomof the boat, into theposition shown in'Figure 2, and before theclamps are tightened the retaining member 12 is dropped down over the clamping pads 38 so that the angle element 24, 25 extends therebetween and the faces of the pads confront the resilient strip 22 on the inner surface of the channel side 18. In this position, bolt 30 will extend through washer 40 and hole 31 in the bracket 11. Thereafter, the clamps are tightened in the usual manner which brings the clamping pads into tight engagement with the strip 22 and channel side 13 and clamps the latter against the transom of the boat as well as clamping the motor in operating position. Nut 41 is then threaded onto bolt 3t as shown, to secure the retaining member to the bracket.

With the foregoing arrangement, the motor can not be lost overboard even though the clamps become loosened since the channel bottom 21 and side 20 overlie the upper portion of the clamping pads 38. Furthermore, any tendency of the motor to drift or shift sidewise on the transom is prevented by the angle element 24, '25 extending between the clamps. The lower part of the shank of bolt 36) is formed with a bore 42 so that the bow of a padlock may be passed therethrough to serves to minimize the transmission of motor vibration and noise to the boat, and the washer 40 is preferably of similar resilient material for the same purpose. If desired, a second resilient strip (not shown) can also be attached to the outersurface of channel side '18 as a "further. vibration dampener'and as a protective pad for the finish on the transom. I

When the locking device is used with a clamping mechanism having a single, centrally disposed clamp, the clamping pad thereof will first be passed through the aperture 44 in the vertical leg 24 of the. retaining member 12, and the motor and engaged member positioned on the transom as previouslydescribed. Thereafter, the clamp may be tightened .and the retainingmember secured to the bracket 11 in the same manner as with a clamping mechanism having a pair of clamps. In the case of a single clamp, sidewise movement of the motor on the transom will 'be prevented by the confines of aperture 44, and loss .overboard Will of course be prevented by the overlying channel bottom 21 and side 29.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the invention provides a highly practical locking device for an outboard motor which is not only adapted for, use with any type of motor clamping mechanism but is simple to operate and inexpensive to manufacture. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiment disclosed is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A locking device for the clamps of an outboard motor comprising a bracket adapted to be rigidly secured to the transom of a boat, a retaining member having a channel adjacent its upper end one side of which is adapted to be engaged by the clamping pads of the motor clamps and the bottom and other side of which is adapted to overlie said pads when so engaged, andmeans adjacent the lower end of said member to detachably secure it to said bracket.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 including a strip of resilient material fixed to the clamping pad engaging side of said channel.

3. In a locking device for the clamps of an outboard motor: a bracket in the form of an angle iron one side of which is rigidly secured to the transom of a boat and the other side of which projects approximately perpendicularly from the transom; a retaining member comprising an inverted channel having one side of substantially greater width than the other side, the wider side of said channel being adapted to abut the transom along its outer surface and to be engaged by the clamping pads of the motor clamps along its inner surface, the bottom and narrower side of said channel being adapted to overlie the upper portion of said clamping pads when the latter are so engaged, and an angle element depending from the central portion of the narrower side of said channel; and means to detachably secure said angle element to the projecting side of said bracket.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said angle element includes a substantially vertical leg having an aperture therein through which a clamping pad may be passed to engage the wider side of said channel.

5. In a locking device for the clamping mechanism of an outboard motor: a bracket in the form of an angle iron having a side adapted to be rigidly secured to the transom of a boat and a side adapted to project outwardly therefrom; a retaining member adapted to coact with said bracket comprising an inverted channel having one side of substantially greater width than its other side, a strip of resilient material fixed to the inner surface of the wider channel side, an angle element having a width measurement substantially less than the length measurement of said channel depending from the central portion of the narrower channel side, said angle element including a substantially vertical leg having an aperture therethrough opposite said resilient strip and a substantially horizontal leg projecting from said vertical leg, said resilient strip being adapted to be engaged by a motor clamping pad passed through said aperture or on either side of said vertical leg; and means to detachably secure said retaining member to said bracket including a bolt member depending from the horizontal leg of said angle element and an aperture in the outwardly projecting side of said bracket to receive said bolt member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Budisch Oct. 28, 1952 

